Aviation wheel chock apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus can include a wheel chock. The wheel chock can include a body portion. The body portion can include: a bottom face; a first side face and a second side face extending upward relative to the bottom face; at least one chocking face positioned above at least one of the first side face or the second side face, wherein the at least one chocking face includes an angled surface; and a spine forming a top surface parallel to the bottom face, the spine adjoined to the at least one chocking face, and the spine defining apertures. The wheel chock can also include an elongated handle attachable to the body portion via the apertures, the elongated handle configured to maintain an upright, self-standing position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel chock, comprising:
 a body portion comprising:
 a bottom face; 
 a first side face and a second side face extending upward relative to the bottom face; 
 at least one chocking face positioned above at least one of the first side face or the second side face, wherein the at least one chocking face includes an angled surface; and 
 a spine forming a top surface parallel to the bottom face, the spine adjoined to the at least one chocking face, and the spine defining apertures; and 
   an elongated handle attachable to the body portion via the apertures, the elongated handle configured to maintain an upright, self-standing position.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel chock of  claim 1 , further comprising a high visibility material integrally formed with at least one of the body portion or the elongated handle. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel chock of  claim 2 , wherein the high visibility material includes a pigment having a color luminance greater than 50 percent. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel chock of  claim 2 , wherein the high visibility material includes a chargeable light emissive material comprising at least one of a luminescent material, a phosphorescent material, or a radioluminescent material. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel chock of  claim 2 , wherein the high visibility material includes a coating applied over at least one of the body portion or the elongated handle. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel chock of  claim 2 , wherein the high visibility material includes a discontinuous or weighted application of sprayed or printed material onto at least one of the body portion or the elongated handle. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel chock of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated handle comprises a rigid portion and a semi-flexible portion. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel chock of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the semi-flexible portion comprises a cable core; and   the rigid portion comprises a sheath positioned around the cable core.   
     
     
         9 . The wheel chock of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated handle comprises a handle height that ranges between thigh height and hip height relative to a user. 
     
     
         10 . The wheel chock of  claim 9 , wherein the elongated handle maintains the handle height in the upright, self-standing position. 
     
     
         11 . The wheel chock of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated handle comprises a handle height that ranges between 24 inches and 32 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The wheel chock of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated handle comprises handle ends having an interference fit relative to the apertures to inhibit removal of the elongated handle from the body portion. 
     
     
         13 . A wheel chock, comprising:
 a base engageable with a support surface;   a first chocking face and a second chocking face positioned above the base, wherein the first chocking face and the second chocking face include angled surfaces;   a spine forming a top surface, the spine adjoining the first chocking face and the second chocking face;   an elongated handle attachable to the spine; and   a chargeable light emissive material positioned across at least one of the first chocking face, the second chocking face, the spine, or the elongated handle.   
     
     
         14 . The wheel chock of  claim 13 , wherein the chargeable light emissive material comprises at least one of a luminescent material, a phosphorescent material, or a radioluminescent material. 
     
     
         15 . The wheel chock of  claim 13 , wherein the chargeable light emissive material comprises a glow-in-the-dark material. 
     
     
         16 . The wheel chock of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated handle is configured to maintain an upright, self-standing position. 
     
     
         17 . A wheel chock, comprising:
 a base;   side faces extending upward relative to the base;   a first chocking face and a second chocking face positioned above the side faces, wherein the first chocking face and the second chocking face include angled surfaces;   a spine forming a top surface, the spine adjoining the first chocking face and the second chocking face;   an elongated handle attached to the spine and configured to maintain an upright, self-standing position, the elongated handle comprising a semi-rigid portion; and   a chargeable light emissive material positioned across at least one of the side faces, the first chocking face, the second chocking face, the spine, or the elongated handle.   
     
     
         18 . The wheel chock of  claim 17 , wherein the semi-rigid portion comprises a cable portion. 
     
     
         19 . The wheel chock of  claim 18 , further comprising a sheath positioned around the cable portion. 
     
     
         20 . The wheel chock of  claim 17 , wherein the chargeable light emissive material is configured to generate a luminous response perceivable to an unaided human eye when the chargeable light emissive material is exposed to temperatures below incandescence, the luminous response being configured to occur during oxidation or after exposure to light or other radiation.